Cleaning attachment for automatic telephone dials



Feb. 14, 1928. E 1,658,977

A. M. EICHORN CLEANING ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE DIALS Filed NOV. 13 1925 v mil -Inn Patented Feb. 14, 1928.

, 1,658,977 PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR M. EICHORN, OF NEW YORK, 11'. Y.

CLEANING ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE DIALS.

Application filed November 13. 1925. Serial No. 68,772.

This invention relates to automatic dial operated telephone apparatus and has particular reference to means for insuring that the dial thereof shall be kept clean of dust,

dirt, or the like coincident with the normal manipulation of the mechanism. 7

From the nature of the construction and its operation the dial, the portion that bears on its surface the numerical or literal indicia, is always exposed to the atmosphere and hence is subjected to the accumulation thereon of dust or dirt which is an occasion for several disagreeable conditions and which can not under ordinary circumstances be remedied with convenience by the means of cleaning devices: First, the accun'mlation of the dust obscures or tends to obscure the indicia on the dial rendering the same more difficult of observation, and. secondly, while with.

using the device in the usual manner the operators' finger sweeps or. Wipes over the face of the dial and consequently the finger so used .is continuously being soiled from the accumulation of dust .or dirt.-

Among the objects of this invention therefore is to apply to the automatic mechanism .above referred to a simple wiping or cleaning member that serves automatically, and

hence without" thought or care on the part i of the user, to keep the dial swept clean,

thereby obviating the objections above enumerated, and without interfering with or disturbing the normal operation of the instrument or presenting a conspicuous appearance. I

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact details of construction disclosed or suggested herein, still for the purpose of. illustrating a practical embodiment thereof. reference is had to the accompanying'drawings in which like reference characters designate the same parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the actuating disk and parts associated directly there- Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts just described, partlyin section, on the-line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and with the telephone base tilted upward into perspective.

' Fig. 3 is a-sectional perspective view of one of m improved cleaners.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged-perspective view of mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a detail View of a modification.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings. B indicates the base of a standard telephone instrument, and S is the standard or stem thereof. Fixed to the base and in slightly inclined position in relation thereto is the switch casing 10 having formed upon the upper surface thereof a series of circular indicia constituting what is described herein as the dial 11. A finger stop member 12 is secured in fixed position upon the periphery ofthe casing 10 and extends at its outer and inner end inward over the dial and spaced therefrom.

Between the'stop 12 and the dial and an annulus or disk provided with a series of ten holes 14 registering respectively with the indicia units on the dial 11. In the normal operation of. this automatic mechanism, the user in calling a station applies his finger in succession in or through certain of the holes 14 according to the exchange and number sought, and when the finger is so applied in each. hole, the finger actuates the actuator ring .in a clockwise direction until stopped by the member 12, this operation being continued until the call is completed. It follows therefore that such use or, movement of the finger is almost certain toresult in the tip of the finger becoming soiled from the dirt or dust usually accumulating on the face of the dial.

In order to obviate the objections above stated I provide a cleaning member comprising a ring or short thimble 15 having on its outer. surface a groove 16, and shown as split at 17 along one side. This thimble is so designed that when contractedas a result of pressure applied to the sides as per arrows a, it may be introduced into any one of the holes 14, preferably the one close beneath the stop 12, andbecause of the inherent'resiliency of the thimble, it will then spring open so as to receive the rim of such hole into thegroove 16 and so be self-retained in place. While the device may be inserted into any of the holes it is found preferable to insert it into the one specified and shown in- Fig. 1 for several reasons: First, when placed in the hole indicated and the actuator is manipulated from such hole, a com-' plete sweep of the dial is assured, and, sec- I no inner edge of the thimble.

'ondly, the 1101s just specified is one as reg of the dial, acharacter,

isters with the that is used more frequently than any other character in this system, and" consequently of the squeegee may be fitted into and se-.

cured in a groove formed in the lower or p The cleaning device constructed'and applied as shown does not-obstruct in any way the clear reading or observation of the indicia upon the dial, and, moreover,-the thimble receives the users fingerin preciselythe "same manner as it is receivedin any other hole of the actuator. It follows therefore that thepresence of the device is in no manner objectionable either to the use andvma'nipulation of the instrunrentor to the technical operation of the s stem. The immediate result,however, is tl iat whenever the-actuator is rotated the squeegee wipes easil but efiectively over the face "of the dial, an keeps the dial swept or brushed-clean of dust or dirt throughout the .sweep of the cleaner in any instance; When,

however, the actuator is'manipulated from the hole bearin the cleaner, the sweep is complete throng out the extent of the series unobstructed vision "of indicialIt' is practically assured, there;

fore, that every use of the instrument forthe. making of a call will thoroughly cleanse thdial, and when the instrument is used fre uently during the day no accumulations.-

of ust or dirt can result with the accom- I .pa'nying soiling ofthe users finger during the initial. manipulation in the making of the next call.

Obviously the material of the thimble may be according to (the demand and may be of 51 hard rubber, metal, or any other material which is of sufficient body for the purpose and which has a certain inherent flexibility so as to snap readily into place. As shown *in Fig. 5 the thimble 15 is made of sheet metal so rolled or formed as to provide a rim overlapping the rim of the hole 14 into which it is fitted and having the squeegee gripped between the edge portions of the metal or other material as at 20". I claim: 1. The combination with a member havin a series of selective indicia on its face an a manually operated actuator movable to variable extents thereover, said actuator having selective finger holes therethrough registering with the indicianforesaid, of a cleanin member fitted in the region of one of said 'oles and movable as a result of the movement of the actuator 'over the surface of saidindicia. K

2.-Mechanism as set forth in claim '1. in

which the cleaning member comprises a thimble having an open center to aflordan through the, hole in (6 which it is fitted. In-testimony; whereof I afiix my si nature.

M. EIGH RN. 

